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Strengthening its advocacy power and voice, the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies recently expanded to become the official trade association representing addiction treatment providers and added “Addiction” to its name, becoming the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, Inc., (NJAMHAA).

Part of this change is the recent launch of our new website, www.njamhaa.org.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for adults and the third leading cause of death for youth. Every day, approximately 2,300 individuals attempt to commit suicide and nearly 90 individuals die by suicide. Several recent suicides in New Jersey, including a state trooper, veteran and school teacher, drew media attention to this prevalent cause of death.

At least 90 percent of individuals who commit suicide had diagnosable and treatable psychiatric illnesses, such as depression, schizophrenia or alcohol or drug abuse, according to the AFSP, which noted that September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. The staggering numbers of suicide could be reduced with the assurance of prompt access to mental health and addiction treatment services, which are effective in preventing suicide. Recognition of risk factors and warning signs and knowing how to help someone at risk are equally essential and can help ensure that individuals receive help when needed.

It's a dangerous reality. A new study suggests that half of all depressed Americans are not getting treated for it.

When sadness interferes with everyday life, that's when depression sets in. Left untreated depression at worse can lead to suicide. Dr. Debra Wentz, CEO of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies, says one big reason for people not getting tretment has to do with stigma and discrimination.

"Other reasons though has to do with lack of access o healthcare, and for undocumented people, it has to do with fear of being caught." says Wentz.

Pequannock - The voting education project that NewBridge Services, Inc. conducted for individuals in their programs, which was featured in yesterday's edition of NJAMHA Newswire, gained additional media coverage in the Star-Ledger.

In addition to describing the program, the article mentioned that New Jersey's Constitution stated, “no idiot or insane person shall enjoy the right of suffrage” until it was fortunately changed in 2007. Now, The Constitution "states that only people who have been determined by a court to be too incompetent to vote cannot take part in elections," the Star-Ledger reported.